Pungo Creek to Bear Creek

My job was to hold the iPad (our chart plotter) just inside the door, out of the rain  and high enough so Erik could see it.  Definitely need to invest in a waterproof, mountable case.

Visibility was low.  Real low.

I know I said we were going to wait out the weather, but it didn't happen.  Around 8:30am we both started to get a little restless and after checking the weather for the umpteenth time, decided to make a 25 nautical mile dash to Bear Creek.  We knew it was a risk and if it worked out, awesome, and if it didn't we could always turn back.  

There had been a tornado warning in effect but it had ended at 8am, so we were on our way.  We hadn't gone very far when the look in Erik's eye started to change.  He grabbed the radio, switched to the weather station, listened, and his eyes got REALLY big.  "We gotta get outta here, baby", was what he said, he turned the boat on a dime and gunned it towards shore.  Turns out he thought he saw what looked like a tornado in the distance and heard the weather station issue a water spout warning and for all small crafts to seek shelter immediately.  Then the 'tornado' started to break up and further research uncovered the water spout warning to be off shore.  When you think tornados, you start to see tornados.  Anyways, we turned around and kept going.

It was raining, hard, and visibility was almost non existent but the winds and seas were manageable.  The only part of the run we were concerned about was crossing the Pamlico River, which was exposed to open water and the waves may have had time to build.  As soon as we neared the mouth of the river you could feel both winds and seas building.  We had motored up until that point; considering the weather and visibility, and I was under the impression we would just keep motoring.  So when Erik started to prepare to unleash the sail, I gave him a quick look that questioned his sanity.  His response was, "Speed is safety, Chels.  Speed is safety."  

Anyways,  the sail added almost 2 knots to our speed and we made it across the river in no time.  Which in the end was safer.  See, you can find the logic. We anchored safely up Bear Creek, which offered better protection than the Pungo Creek, and today instead of Oriental, we are going to push it to Beaufort NC, where we can hopefully stock up on some much needed supplies. 

-Chels